David Stern wants to end ‘flopping.’ Good. About time. Here’s how.

Of all the skills it takes to excel in basketball, acting is not supposed to be among them. But don’t blame the actors.

David Stern once again voiced his distaste for flopping, even calling out the competition committee for failing to act upon his previous saber-rattling on the topic.

He often gets accused of trying to spin everything that goes on in his league as somehow wonderful, but with so many players so often acting like stunt men in a Hollywood western, he was strongly critical of the tactic during ESPN during Sunday’s broadcast. (Stern was not available to the rest of the media because he said he did not want to distract from LeBron James’ MVP presentation.)

“Some of this is acting,” Stern said. “We should give out Oscars rather than MVP trophies.”

The acting is probably not Oscar-worthy, but the point is valid. Basketball should be won through shooting, passing, rebounding, defending and much more. The ability to crash to the floor and flop around like a bass at the bottom of the boat should be nowhere on the list.

“It’s a legitimate concern,” Stern said. “Some years ago, I told the competition committee that we were going to start fining people for flopping and then suspend them—and I think they almost threw me out of the room (and said), ‘No, let it be.’

“But I think it’s time to look at it a more serious way, because it’s only designed to fool the referee. It’s not a legitimate play in my judgment.”

He’s right, of course, though if Stern wanted change badly enough, he would get it. There is a saying in the NBA that “David gets what David wants.” But he is on board again. He strongly sent notice that the problem – and it is a problem — needs to be addressed and fixed this time.

It can be done to a degree, but many of the solutions proposed create more issues than they solve. Of greater concern, many of the players that “flop” are doing what they must do to draw an offensive foul.

The NBA does not need to turn its games into episodes of “Flopping with the Stars,” in which three judges issue scores to determine the quality of the acting on the floor.

The league can, however, issue fines for flops the way it does for flagrant fouls. Call them “flagrant flops.” There are times players and coaches argue that opponents flopped that are tough calls. The defender might not have been hit hard enough to go flying, but he was hit. The NBA can’t fine players for not taking a hit better.

That’s not the same as the times that players send themselves crashing to the court in a blatant effort to trick the officials. The NBA should address that, and can do it much as it deals with flagrant fouls. Review the video. Assign a number of points for each infraction. And suspend players when they reach that limit.

The bigger, more valuable correction has to be during games. The flops that would become an issue and debated to the point that they distract from the game itself are the times that players legitimately try to draw a charge then send themselves flying to make sure they get a call. Those are much more common than the blatant acts of deception.

The idea of “selling” the foul is so pervasive because it is necessary. Players rarely can rarely get the call unless they hit the deck. If a player draws a charge but somehow keeps his feet, he will not expect to hear a whistle. If he falls on his butt, however, he can soon get up and start walking the other way.

Players with the ball can get away with pretty much anything unless they knock someone over. With many of the rule changes limiting individual defense, players ought to be able to defend without falling down.

If officials start calling offensive fouls even if players keep their feet, players will not feel they have to flop.

Make it a preseason point of emphasis. Put it in the videos the league distributes to the media. Emphasize it in the preseason meetings with teams.

Offensive fouls will be called even if defenders avoid falling backward like actors taking the Nestea Plunge.

Make that change and there will be much less flopping because there would be no need to for it. Then if players still feel the need to flop, those fines would be deserved. Best of all, on the day an MVP gets his trophy, the commissioner would not have to talk about players whose skill is falling down.

<b><center>HIGHS</center></b>
1. The Rockets began a four-game road trip with wins in Chicago and Los Angeles, becoming the only NBA team to beat the Bulls, Lakers and Thunder on the road, then won in Sacramento and Portland to sweep the trip. less

<b><center>HIGHS</center></b>
1. The Rockets began a four-game road trip with wins in Chicago and Los Angeles, becoming the only NBA team to beat the Bulls, Lakers and Thunder on the road, then won in ... more

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

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2. Chandler Parsons emerged from his place as a second-round pick, the third of the Rockets draft choices, to become a starter by his rookie season’s eighth game, a strength of the defense and a solid all-around contributor. less

2. Chandler Parsons emerged from his place as a second-round pick, the third of the Rockets draft choices, to become a starter by his rookie season’s eighth game, a strength of the defense and a solid ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

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3. Goran Dragic took over as the Rockets starting point guard when Kyle Lowry went out with a bacterial infection March 8 and led the Rockets for a month, becoming the Western Conference player of the week and a coveted free agent. He averaged 18 points and 8.4 assists as a starter. less

3. Goran Dragic took over as the Rockets starting point guard when Kyle Lowry went out with a bacterial infection March 8 and led the Rockets for a month, becoming the Western Conference player of the week and ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

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4. After losses in six of seven games and with Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin going out with illness and injuries, the Rockets completed a five-game road trip with a win in Oklahoma City, beginning a March turnaround. less

4. After losses in six of seven games and with Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin going out with illness and injuries, the Rockets completed a five-game road trip with a win in Oklahoma City, beginning a March ... more

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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<b><center>LOWS</center></b>
1. After sweeping a four-game road trip to move to sixth in the West, the Rockets lost their next six games, dropping the first three to Utah, Phoenix and Denver after trailing by 18, 16 and 23 points. less

<b><center>LOWS</center></b>
1. After sweeping a four-game road trip to move to sixth in the West, the Rockets lost their next six games, dropping the first three to Utah, Phoenix and Denver after trailing by ... more

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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2. The Rockets’ trade to acquire a star to build around fell through on the eve of training camp when commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of the Hornets, would not approve the deal. Luis Scola (left), Goran Dragic and Kevin Martin remained in limbo for several days, before the Lakers ended talks that could have sent Pau Gasol (center) to Houston and created cap room to sign Nene. less

2. The Rockets’ trade to acquire a star to build around fell through on the eve of training camp when commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of the Hornets, would not approve the deal. Luis Scola (left), ... more

Photo: Robert Gauthier / McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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3. The Rockets stumbled through losses in six of seven games in March, losing Kyle Lowry, left, for a month to a bacterial infection and days later Kevin Martin for the rest of the season with a strained right shoulder. less

3. The Rockets stumbled through losses in six of seven games in March, losing Kyle Lowry, left, for a month to a bacterial infection and days later Kevin Martin for the rest of the season with a strained right ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle

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4. Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin (pictured) finished last season with career years and Patrick Patterson finished well to become a key to the Rockets’ plans. Lowry and Martin finished this season out with injuries and Patterson struggled to come back from months lost to off-season ankle surgery. less

4. Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin (pictured) finished last season with career years and Patrick Patterson finished well to become a key to the Rockets’ plans. Lowry and Martin finished this season out with ... more